MRC Foundation Events

Cummings: Hartnell can carry Toorak weight

The grand veteran Hartnell threatens to wind back the clock to the days of the old-time handicaps when he takes top weight of 59kg into Saturday's Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

The eight-year-old comes off a famous last-stride win in the G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick but is being asked to carry 2kg more in the Toorak.

If Hartnell was to complete the Group 1 handicap feature double his 59kg will eclipse the performance of another legendary galloper Gunsynd, who scored his win in 1971 with 58.5kg.

The record is held by Tobin Bronze, who lumped 62.5kg to victory in the Toorak before his final run in this country when he won the Cox Plate before being sent to race in the US.

Victory in the $500,000 race will push Hartnell's earnings to $5.74 million and in doing so see him depose Super Impose from the top 20 earners in Australian history.

Trainer James Cummings said he feels Hartnell can carry the huge weight and win.

"He's back up to 59 kilograms, but I think that against those horses he's very capable of being competitive with them at that weight," Cummings said.

"We've been delighted with the way he's come through that effort and we'll proceed to the Toorak Handicap now, despite him having to carry the penalty for winning the Epsom.

"He'll enjoy getting back to Caulfield where he's still got quite a good record.

"Staying at 1600m for now looks perfect leading up to a race like the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington later in the carnival.

"It was a careful choice that we made to run in this rather than the Caulfield Stakes, but he's responded so well to being kept to the shorter trips that I had to go with our gut feeling."

Jungle Cat also represents Godolphin in the Toorak and his trainer Charlie Appleby was upbeat about his chances up to 1600m.

"We were delighted he won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke, as that was the race we had picked out for him months ago," Appleby said. "He deserved that win.

"I thought the way he ran last time that the 1600 metres is going to suit him even better. James Doyle is back to take the ride again which is a big positive. They know each other well."

Appleby is to run Blair House in the Caulfield Stakes and he said he could see an improvement on his debut in this country.

"His first run in Australia (in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes) was good in the circumstances," Appleby said.

"He missed the break and was near-last early, yet he finished off his race well, despite being checked in the straight.

"This is a tough race, but he is ready to step up."

Blair House will be joined in the race by Benbatl and his trainer Saeed bin Suroor warned the horse will not be at his very best.

"He has been away from the racecourse for some time," bin Suroor said.

"He hasn't raced since the Juddmonte International at York in August, so he needs a run before moving on to the Cox Plate."

Bin Suroor also has Prize Money entered for the Herbert Power Stakes.

"His work has been good, both before he left Newmarket (UK) and on arrival at Werribee," he said.

"I feel the Australian style of racing is going to suit him and this will be a good starting point for his campaign. It is the right race for him.

"This race will tell us which races he should be targeting,"

Cummings will saddle Osborne Bulls in The Everest and he said the horse was ready to produce his best.

"I wanted him third-up in the Rupert Clarke because he flies third-up, but he missed a run and that wasn't to be," Cummings said.

"But he's third-up here and the way it's unfolded there's every reason to think he'll run a personal best in The Everest, which he's going to need to produce to compete with the best sprinters in the country at weight-for-age.

"He's as good as I've ever had him.

"Whether he's good enough at this stage, remains to be seen, but to be involved in a race like this, one of the biggest sprints in world racing that has attracted a great field, is a great experience for me and the team.

"To see the Godolphin colours go around in The Everest will be a huge thrill for the entire organisation."